SPD FIU Investigation Leads to Recovery of Illegal Firearm, Heroin and Crack-Cocaine
Springfield, Mass. — On Friday November 1st at approximately 12:50 p.m., members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, C3 Metro Unit and Hampden County Sheriff’s Department under the direction of Captain Brian Keenan, Sergeant Jaime Bruno and Sergeant David Robillard made five arrests, seized an AR upper receiver, a loaded firearm, additional ammunition, crack-cocaine, heroin and cash.
For the past several weeks, members of the Firearms Investigation Unit have been investigating illegal sale of crack-cocaine from an apartment on the 0-100 block of Winter Street and that individuals involved possess firearms. Detectives applied for and were granted a search warrant to the apartment.
On November 1st, Detectives were conducting surveillance prior to executing the search warrant and observed one of the targets, Alexander Rivera, leave the apartment and meet up with and take a suspected customer to the apartment. While this was transpiring, another target of the investigation, Timothy Ortiz, was seen leaving the apartment building possessing what Detectives believed to be a firearm. Ortiz and a subject, later identified as Xiomara Vazquez-Alicea, got into a car and drove away.
Detectives, Officers and Sheriff’s Deputies then conducted a traffic stop of that vehicle near the intersection of Armory Street and Carew Street. Officers recovered 14 bags of heroin and approximately 6.8 grams of crack cocaine from Ortiz. Detectives then recovered a loaded firearm inside the car. Ortiz and Vazquez-Alicea were placed under arrest.
Around this time, Detectives then executed the search warrant on Winter Street. Detectives first detained and later arrested Taveon Awosika on the 2nd floor porch of the apartment building. Gregory Daviau, the suspected customer from earlier, was then detained and later arrested on the 3rd floor porch. Rivera was then detained and later arrested on the 4th floor porch.
During a search of the apartment, Detectives recovered a 5.56 AR Upper Receiver, more than 240 bags of heroin, 25 rounds of various ammunition and approximately 15.3 grams of crack-cocaine. Detectives also recovered more than $600 in cash from Rivera and Awosika and five bags of heroin and a bag of crack-cocaine from Daviau.
29-year-old Timothy Ortiz of Springfield is charged with:
- Carrying a Firearm without a License
- Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License – 2nd Offense
- Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
- Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Firearm Violation with Three Prior Violent/Drug Crimes
- Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug – Subsequent Offense
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug – Subsequent Offense
53-year-old Alexander Rivera of Springfield is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
- Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card
28-year-old Xiomara Vazquez-Alicea of Springfield is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
- Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
18-year-old Taveon Awosika of Springfield is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
32-year-old Gregory Daviau of South Hadley is charged with:
- Possession of a Class A Drug
- Possession of a Class B Drug
